Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes during the period ended June 30, 2022 in our “Risk Factors” as discussed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Our business would be adversely affected if we failed to comply with the Jones Act foreign ownership provisions or if these provisions were modified or repealed .
We are subject to the Jones Act and other federal laws that restrict maritime cargo transportation between points in the U.S. As a result of the Alliance acquisition, we acquired 21 vessels registered under the U.S. flag which operate in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coastwise trade. In order to operate vessels in the Jones Act trade and to be qualified to document vessels for coastwise trade, we must maintain U.S. citizen status for Jones Act purposes. We could cease being a U.S. citizen if certain events were to occur, including if non-U.S. citizens were to own 25% or more of our common stock. We are responsible for monitoring our ownership to ensure compliance with the Jones Act. The consequences of our failure to comply with the Jones Act provisions on coastwise trade, including failing to qualify as a U.S. citizen, would have an adverse effect on our results of operations as we may be prohibited from operating certain of our vessels in the U.S. coastwise trade or, under certain circumstances, permanently lose U.S. coastwise trading rights or be subject to fines or forfeiture of certain our vessels. There have been attempts to repeal or amend restrictions contained in the Jones Act, and such attempts are expected to continue in the future. Our business could be adversely affected if the Jones Act were to be modified or repealed so as to permit foreign competition that is not subject to the same U.S. government imposed burdens.
We may execute a strategic transaction that may not achieve intended results, could increase our debt or the number of our shares outstanding, or result in a change of control.
We have executed acquisitions and divestitures in the past, and in the future we may evaluate and potentially enter into additional strategic transactions. Any such transaction could be material to our business, could occur at any time and could take any number of forms, including, for example, an acquisition, merger, joint venture, strategic alliance, equity investment, divestiture or an asset sale.
The success of any transaction may depend on, in part, our ability to integrate an acquired business and realize the financial growth or synergies expected from the transaction. Any such transaction may not be successful, may not be accretive to shareholders or may not achieve expected benefits within an expected timeframe. Acquired businesses may also have unanticipated liabilities, contingencies or negative tax consequences. In addition, acquisitions are accompanied by the risk that the obligations of an acquired business may not be adequately reflected in the historical financial statements of that company and the risk that those historical financial statements may be based on assumptions which are incorrect or inconsistent with our assumptions or approach to accounting policies. Any of these material obligations, unanticipated liabilities or incorrect or inconsistent assumptions could have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy, business, financial condition, prospects and results of operations. Furthermore, evaluating potential transactions and integrating completed transactions could be time-consuming, involve significant transaction related expenses, create unexpected costs, involve difficulties assimilating the operations and personnel of an acquired business, make evaluating our business and future financial prospects difficult and may divert the attention of our management from ordinary operating matters.
Any such transaction may require additional financing that could result in an increase in the number of our outstanding shares or the aggregate amount of our debt, and the number of shares of our common stock or the aggregate principal amount of our debt that we may issue may be significant. Certain transactions may not be permitted under our existing asset-based credit facility, requiring either waivers, amendments, or terminating such facility. Furthermore, a strategic transaction may result in a change in control of our company or otherwise materially and adversely affect our business.
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